Shape retainer for men&#39;s soft hats



May 6 1924.

- W. ELLIS SHAPE RETAINER FOR MENS SOFT HATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22. 192] /M VRNTOET W wwm ATTY..

May a, 1924. 1,493,194

' W. ELLIS SHAPE RETAINER FOR msu's SOFT nus Filed June 22. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6,1924.

winnmu arms, or 1mm, nnenmn.

SHAPE RETAINER FOB IENS SOFT HATS.

Application am June a, 1921. Serial No. 419,090.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ELLIS, a subject of the Kin of Great Britain, residmg at Lytham, ancaster County, England, have invented a new and useful Shape Betainer for Mens Soft Hats, of which the following is a specification.

In the wearing of a velour,

aster it is found in course. of use that by having frequently to' put on and take off the hat there is a tendency for thefront part of the hat to get out of shape by reason of the wearer grasping the crown instead of the brim thus forming dents where the hat is gripped by the hand and these dents or misshape-ments take away the smart appearance of the hat and make it look old and worn. v

The rear or back part of the hat generally retains i-ts shape because it is not handled in the above manner in the raising or putting on or taking ofi' the hat from the Now the object of the present invention is to overcome or prevent the aforesaid defects by providing simple and inexpensive means adapted to retain the front, and if desired the back, part of the hat in its correct shape.

. In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hat having a device constructed according to the present invention applied thereto, art of the hat being broken away to show t e position of the retainer or stifiener when in use.

Figure 2 is a plan or development of the device separately. V

Figure 3 is an edge'view thereof.

Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure2 illustrating a modification in the construction of the device and Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4 illustrating a further modification.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawin 1 represents a plate or sheet of any suitable material WhlCh may be shaped as shown, or it might be of any other suitable shape and this'plate 1 is designed-to be inserted in the inside front part of the hat 2 between the leather or cloth band 3 and the body of the hat 2 in the manner shown in felt, cloth, straw or similar hats'or caps of a soft char- Figure 1, said plate 1 being retained in position by said band 3.

If desired the plate or stiffener 1 may be further fixed in position by stitches or any suitable adhesive or it may be embodied in the material of which the hat is formed durin the manufacture of the same.

If esired the plate ma be shaped in conformity with the usual 5 ape of the hat as first worn or it may be embossed inorder to give to the hat the required shape.

The device is preferably constructed of celluloid on account of its lightness and s ringiness and it ma be perforated to furt or lighten its weig t as shown at 6 Figure 2 and to provide meansfor ventilation and to reve-nt any curling or bulging of the devlce which might be causedby the varying heat or perspiration of the head but it may also be constructed of any other suitable substance such as cardboard or other material.

The device might if desired be of skele-' ton formation and constructed of wire'of an; suitable character.

n the example given at Figure 4 the device is constructed of a wire frame 1 having stretched across the same wire or other suitable gauze 1. Or it might be a network of intermeshing wire of anysuitable uge.

In the example given at Figure 5 t e device consists of a body 1 and a tail piece 4* connected to the body 1 by means of bars or struts 5. In use the tail iece 4 is inserted between the band 3 an the body of the hat 2 when the body 1 of the device will conform to the shape of the hat 2 with a ,certain amount of outward pressure.

prising a flat sheet of flexible material havmg its upper edge formed to correspond with the interior transverse contour of the front portion of the top of. the hat and being provided on its lower edge with cut away portions on opposite sides of the can ter so as to provide depending supporting tween the sweat band and vertical walls at members at each end and at the center, in the front thereof so as to preventeoliapse of alignment with each other when the sheet is the same. 10

in a flattened condition. the said sheet. adapt- In testimony whereof I have signed my ed to be bent to conform to the interior conname to this specification.

tour of the vertical walls of the hat and having the suppoiting members inserted be- WILLIAM ELLIS. 

